About Labour’s Policy Process

Labour is a democratic socialist party. Our policy development process is designed to involve members, local parties, trade unions, socialist societies, elected representatives as well as the wider community.

Policy is developed through the National Policy Forum (NPF). This is a body of over 200 representatives from all the major groups of the Labour Party, from constituency parties and regions to affiliated trade unions, socialist societies, MPs and councillors. Its role is to shape the Party’s policy agenda, drawing up policy documents for agreement.

NPF representatives are placed onto one of eight policy commissions that examine specific policy areas; each commission is co-convened by a Shadow Secretary of State and an NEC member.

These Commissions consider the policy submissions which come in from across the Labour Party, and develop detailed positions which are then discussed at Annual Conference. The current commissions are:

Policy making runs from general election to general election, with updated documents produced for every Annual Conference. Members, supporters and affiliate groups make submissions to the process detailing their views. What they tell the NPF shapes the documents produced.

We are now building on our 2017 manifesto and we want to hear the views of as many people as possible.

You can get involved in policy development both online and in your area. Find out more about the eight policy commissions and how to make your submission here.

We’ll also post the latest news and updates on policy discussions and events happening around the UK here.

To learn more, members can watch a recorded webinar about how Labour makes policy and how you can get involved here.